148 UK visitors whose trip to Grenada was unexpectedly extended due to the coronavirus pandemic finally returned home this week.
The UK Government worked with regional and local authorities to arrange special flights with LIAT and British Airways (BA) to fly them from Grenada to Barbados and onwards to London Heathrow on 3 and 4 June 2020. While in Grenada, they were called and visited by tourism officials to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
Delicious local fruit baskets from Belmont Estate, compliments the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) were delivered at Easter time and a special care package was delivered to a group staying on the sister isle of Carriacou by GTA Representative, Rina Mills.
The Government of Grenada temporarily closed borders early to protect its citizens and visitors during the global pandemic and it has done an excellent job in containing the spread of the virus.
Commenting on the repatriation effort, Chief Executive Officer of the GTA, Patricia Maher, said, “The UK visitors were well taken care of in the hotels, guesthouses and private homes with our warm Grenadian hospitality and they were fortunate to be cocooned and safe on the islands of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.”
One of the happy UK visitors returning home was Tim Mahoney of Sussex, England. He said, “Even though I had a very good time, I am relieved to be going home. It was beautiful and quiet.” Benson Gay of London remarked, “Although the lockdown was a bit tough, I was in the safest place.”
Likewise, the Government of Grenada made arrangements for 21 Grenadian nationals who were stranded in the UK to be flown back to the island using the same LIAT and BA carriers. Grenada is currently preparing to reopen its borders to visitors in the coming weeks and it is looking forward to reactivating the tourism economy in a safe and gradual manner.
GTA
I have been stranded in Grenada since March when I came for a Funeral. We are now in June and the Lockdown and Curfew is still in place. The Airport could have been reopened June but it was extended for no good reason another month. British Airways cancelled my flight Five times yet they are flying a select number of passengers out of Barbados for £600. They have no flights scheduled until August. What about our families and our jobs does anyone give a shit.
Its Idiotic Politicians that placed Free individuals under house arrest, wrecked the economy and have made a bad situation worse. Now they want thanks and praise for allowing emergency flights for a situation they caused in the first place.
Well said Kesri and there’s also some scam going on with the repatriation flight that never went. Email your MP hope.that kicks the FCO into.action. What is it with Barbados? Why arrange flights where people from several islands are mixed together there? As Frank F said, the 5th June repatriation flight never happened. Let’s get the UK government to give Willie Walsh a kicking and get BA to stand up to their responsibilities. They stranded us (presumably Virgin too) the Grenadian government wouldn’t stop a repatriation flight surely.
Can there be another repatriation flight?? The 3 on the 3rd 4th and 5th weren’t enough for everyone to leave as there are still people in Grenada stuck who need to get to the UK. We dont know for sure when Grenada will actually open its borders so I believe another flight should be organized for the upcoming week or so for the UK.
For God sake why are there still these strict lockdown measures in Grenada ?
And what happened to the Grenadian Revolutionairy spirit ?
This is a crime against humanity performed against all Grenadian people.
The 5th June flight did take place. My wife and I are living proof it did.
We are back in England after spending 3 months in Grenada; St George to be exact. We were on the scheduled 9.55 am LIAT flight which departed late to Barbados and the 7.05 pm BA9113 schedule flight that departed at 7.50 pm and arrived at London Heathrow at 8.50 am UK time.
Extremely sorry for those who did not meet the deadline to secure a booking on these chartered flights. I really feel for them because I know how I personally felt not knowing when one will get an available flight to return home. It is an experience I don’t ever want to have to go through again. However; it will not stop me from returning to Grenada again and again; it my birthright and I love Grenada.
Good for you Winston, FlightRadar24 only shows BA9113 leaving 4th June and landing 5th June, can’t see any flight leaving Barbados on 5th June to the UK.
Winston Strachan, the June 4th flight landed on June 5th in the UK. Think you’re confusing the time zones/dates
My daughter and granddaughter are still stranded as the baby is only 2 weeks and to young to fly
Hello my husband is stuck in Grenada of almost 3and half months now when can he leave to come back to Canada
Hi I am stranded in Grenada over two months…I am from st lucia is there any way I can pay for a chartered flight to return home..please…I am asking please I need to return home
Stacy. Call the saint lucia tourism authority to ask them for assistance. They may be sble to provide guidance. 758 4587101. Or look them up online. Good luck
We have been stranded here for 15 weeks and paid for a repatriation flight which were scheduled for 3/4/5 June. We have heard nothing further despite attempts to contact the FCO, British Commission in Barbados and the travel organiser CTM. Clearly the 5 June flight did not happen, can someone please highlight this on our behalf we cannot be alone in this?
My daughter and granddaughter are still stranded as the baby is only 2 weeks and to young to fly
Unfortunately some people made the groups stay in carricou but thats another story. Thank you to Rina Mills, we will be back next year.
A big thank you to all involved in the repatriation efforts over the last few days. I was very sad to leave and planning my next trip asap! The extended time gave me a golden opportunity to reconnect with my beautiful island even through the lockdown restrictions. It also afforded the time to reconnect with family and friends. Although the economic and personal financial hit was tough we will get over this and come out fighting as is the way of Grenadians. I am now safely through the first part of my long journey home and looking forward to reuniting with my family.
Hi I am still in Grenada and need to go home to England for family and work are they going to be any more repatriated flights
“clearly the 5th June flight didn’t happen”…. Clearly you can’t read properly
Neither can you Sorry fi marga dog, the 5th June flight never happened or if it did it was invisible. Look at flightradar24 or Barbados departures or Heathrow arrivals.
It didn’t go.
Maybe you’re a startrek fan and they were all teleported back but they certainly didn’t fly.
Glad you got back ok Lee may I ask how much notice you got from CTM? We’ve heard nothing and are trying to get to the bottom of if the 5th June flight went. If it did then it was invisible. Glad you’re back safe